The Scarsdale Diet Plan was developed in the 1970s in Scarsdale, New York by Dr. Herman Tarnower as a weight-loss diet for obese patients. It's a very low calorie diet; average caloric intake is between 800 and 1,000 calories daily. It was one of the first low-carb/high-protein diets, but unlike many other popular low-carb plans, the Scarsdale Diet is also low-fat. This diet is only suitable for adults with no other serious medical conditions.
The Scaresdale Diet is low in calories, carbs and fat and is not suitable for adolescents, diabetics or people with other serious medical conditions. The diet has two phases; the rapid weight loss phase, called the Scarsdale Medical Diet and Keep Trim Eating. During the SMD, you follow a set menu plan of three meals daily with no snacks. You may stay on SMD for one or two weeks, but no longer , before transitioning to KTE. KTE allows you to add more variety of foods and increase your caloric intake. Weight loss should continue during KTE, but results aren't as dramatic as during the SMD phase.
Pros
The Scarsdale diet will help you lose weight. It will also help you pay closer attention to your diet, because you must follow the eating plan exactly. Being aware of the food you eat may continue even after you stop the diet, which could lead to long-term weight loss.
Cons
There are far more negative than positive aspects to the Scarsdale Diet. The diet is so low in calories that you may feel hungry and fatigued, and it may be difficult to exercise. There actually is no formal exercise component to the diet. Because the diet is boring and you will be hungry, you may be more tempted to cheat. Much of the initial weight loss will be water weight, which is easily regained once you resume normal eating habits. There is no dairy allowed, which could limit the amount of calcium in your diet.
Fad Diets vs. Healthy Weight Loss
Long-term weight loss depends on making sustainable diet and lifestyle choices that include eating a variety of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and unsaturated fats. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that losing between 1 and 2 lbs. per week is a safe rate for weight-loss. The Scarsdale diet claims that you can lose up to 15 lbs. in two weeks. The Scarsdale Diet also eliminates entire food groups, such as dairy as well as most fruits and legumes -- an important source of fiber; the CDC says that this is not a good long-term weight loss strategy.
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